A/N: -    I'm really sorry this chapter isn't going to be as long as the other chapters but it's essential for the story and the next chapter will be longer and things will get more mysterious…and far more dangerous for our heroes!

   They arrived at the Foot HQ and, sure enough, the Foot were out wreaking havoc all across New York. Hun was there with Shredder but the Turtles were quietly confident about beating them; even Mikey, the hysterical screamer of the group, was almost certain that they would successfully rid New York, and the rest of the world, of the Shredder.

"Ok, guys, we just have to wait for the signal," Leo whispered to his brothers and Casey. Splinter had disappeared and was on a high platform over on the other side of the room so that he could only emerge if there was a real problem. Splinter's signal was a spin of his staff. It finally came and the Turtles moved to their separate starting positions.

"So, Shredder, you thought you could kill us?" Leo growled, dropping down behind Shredder.

"You're gonna pay for all the trouble you've caused us," Donnie added, dropping down to the left of Shredder, who was looking at the turtles in front of him with Hun by his side.

"And let me tell you, Shred-head, the minute you dare lay a finger on my brothers is the minute you die." Raph snarled, joining his two brothers who were already in front of Shredder.

"And because I can't think of a clever fight line, I'm gonna go with screaming and running round like a headless turtle in the hope you'll show me mercy!" Mikey laughed nervously.

"You fools," Shredder rasped, "did you really think your little plan to fake your own deaths would fool me?"

"Ummm…yeah, we did actually," Mikey cowered.

"As we speak, the Foot are on their way to the Farmhouse to dispose of a certain Miss O'Neill who has been alerting you to the crimes of the Foot. And now, you will die a painful and slow death,"

"I don't think so, Shredder. We are gonna kick your filthy ass into oblivion!" Casey leapt down from where he'd been hiding and the fight began.

    Hun automatically launched himself at Casey and Raph, the two who frequently escaped from him and foiled his plans in their many encounters with his Purple Dragons, who were probably not even aware that their leader was in a battle for his life. Shredder went for the other three turtles that had surrounded him so that at least one of them would get a decent shot at him, even if Shredder performed a split kick to throw of two of them. This was the case; Leo and Donnie were thrown off and Mikey was left in a fierce battle with Shredder and Shredder hadn't yet started using his katana!

   Splinter observed the scene with more and more creases appearing on his face; he had a difficult decision to make. He could either stay here and keep an eye on his sons or he could go and rescue April. However, Casey made the decision for him.

"Splinter, go and rescue April!"

     Splinter nodded and was off faster then a speeding bullet and, considering he was an old rat, that was pretty impressive. He knew he had only a short amount of time to reach the Farmhouse before the Foot ninjas did. If they got to April O'Neill first then the consequences would be disastrous, and irreversible; you can't exactly bring someone back from the dead, can you? He reached the Farmhouse in record time and ran through the forest. He reached the edge and looked through the trees at the house; the Foot clan were already inside it…Splinter was too late. He backed off and turned round, sighing with mixed grief and regret. The Farmhouse was burning and April would be dead. Suddenly, he saw a figure moving amongst the trees. He ran towards it, launching himself into the air and landing right in front of it. It screamed…wait a minute; Foot ninjas don't scream like that…

"Miss O'Neill?" he asked, peering into the darkness.

"Master Splinter?" April peeked round the tree behind which she'd leapt to hide, thinking Splinter was an enemy.

"What, in the name of Bushido, are you doing here?"

"I knew they would come to find me so I had to get out. Where are Raph and the others?"

"Fighting Shredder, and now I must get back to them. You must come with me to the battle shell which is positioned not far from the Foot HQ and then you will stay in hiding there until I get back with my sons. Not all of us may return so you must prepare yourself for the worst. Have you a message for young Mr. Casey Jones?"

"Tell him that…I wish him luck and that, if he fights honourably and survives, maybe I'll think about going on a date with him and giving a relationship a try."

"I shall pass on the message to him…now come. I fear my sons will need some help in defeating Shredder." Splinter whispered, leading April off into the forest so they could exit the other side and go towards the Foot HQ without risk of being seen and captured. They had to move, and move quickly…

  Meanwhile, Donnie and Leo were back on their feet and were once again battling the Shredder and giving him everything they had. Mikey had been knocked out when Shredder had caught him with a right hook punch by surprise and Raph and Casey were having several problems dealing with the furious Hun as he swung his massive iron hard fists at them, repeatedly attempting to knock them out. Leo and Donnie were making alternate attacks on their tough opponent but both of them already had many bruises and cuts and, though he didn't like to admit it, Leo was suffering since Shredder had kicked one of his not quite healed up wounds (on his left leg) from the warehouse. Now, he had a slight limp which slowed his kicks slightly, but Leo didn't want to admit it in case his brothers thought him weak (although he knew they wouldn't – it was just an excuse for him to ignore the pain which was now gnawing at him.).

"Donnie, Mikey, Raph! Turtle formation, now! Casey, keep fighting Hun!" Leo barked out his orders to the others and his three brothers and Casey nodded in agreement, knowing that they had to try every move known to them and hope to find one that would catch Shredder off-guard and give them the chance to finish him once and for all. Donnie, Mikey and Raph were soon in the starting position for the Turtle formation (A manoeuvre involving Raph springing at the opponent(s) from behind and Donnie jumping and landing slightly to the right of the opponent(s). Then Mikey would trip the opponent(s) with his Nunchuks and Leo would aim a kick at the chest of the opponent(s) before finishing them with a swipe of his Katana.) And now the four of them waited only for Leo's command.

"Leo, when you're ready!" Raph yelled at his brother as he blocked an attack from Shredder with his Sais.

"Ok, guys, NOW!"

    The plan was put into action and everything was going perfectly until Casey was thrown into the middle of them just as Leo was about to finish Shredder with a swipe from his left Katana. And, so you all know, if Leo had swiped with his Katana then he would've decapitated Casey as well as Shredder, and Raph would never have forgiven him for that. Shredder recovered from the shock of the Turtle formation, got to his feet and lifted Casey in front of him like a shield, holding a blade to his exposed throat.

"All of you stand in front of me or Jones gets it." Shredder's raspy voice ordered. All eyes were on Leo. Raph's look was pleading.

"Guys, stand in front of Mr. Metalhead here." Leo said, his voice staying calm and level. The Turtles did as they were told and Shredder's insane laugh soon filled the room.

"You fools; did you really think I would spare him if you just stood in front of me. I just wanted you to get a better view of him dying! You would do well not to listen to your 'fearless' leader all the time in battle."

"Donnie," Leo whispered through gritted teeth to the brother in purple stood next to him, "We do the Metalhead special…you know, the one we practised for an emergency such as this?"

"Yeah," Donnie agreed and whispered to Raph," Raph, tell Mikey, it's one Metalhead special…you know the code word for the start of this operation!"

"Sure, brainiac…Mikey, it's Metalhead special time."

"Cool!" Mikey said, eyes widening in excitement.

"You can't kill him, Shredder," Leo stated calmly, a flash of malice glimmering in his eyes as he stared, unblinking, at the Shredder. Casey twigged on instantly to what was going on…Leo was going to risk the Metalhead special…they'd only ever practised it once and that was several months ago as a joke battle in the dojo of the Turtle's sewer lair! This was possibly the most dangerous and risky thing they had ever come up with to use in a battle.

"And why not, mutant freak?"

"Because of PIZZA!!!!" Leo shouted the code word at the top of his voice to make it as clear as possible, and the Metalhead special was about to get its first, and, if things went to plan, its last try-out…

A/N: -   There you have it! My sixth chapter of 'TBBOTML'. I really hope you enjoyed it and are making your way to the 'submit review' box right about now! See you next time – I'll update as soon as I can!